A convenience store owner in Washington state will serve more than eight years in prison for shooting and killing a would-be shoplifter who was trying to flee the store after a physical run-in with the owner.

Min Kim, the owner of the Pacific Quick Shop in Spanaway, appeared in court Friday to be sentenced for the fatal March 2016 shooting of 21-year-old Jakeel Rashon Mason.

"I'm here to take responsibility for my actions in taking Mason's life," said Kim, who had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. "I accept the consequences. I did not have the right to take his life."

According to Q13 Fox, Mason was shot in the back after trying to steal a package of cigarettes. He died before first responders could arrive.

During an interview last year before his arrest, Kim told Q13 Fox that he fired his gun because he feared for his life.

Police said surveillance video inside the store painted a different picture.

Just before the shooting, the 31-year-old owner had gone outside to tell a group of guys standing around to leave. Inside the store, Mason was seen on video reaching around the counter trying to grab cigarettes.

When Kim came back into his store, he had a gun pointed at the suspect.

A Washington convenience store owner is headed to prison for killing a shoplifter.

(KCPQ)

The outlet reports that Mason put both hands in the air and Kim holstered his weapon before punching the attempted thief in the face.

The two men started fighting and fell to the floor. As Mason freed himself and tried to leave the store, Kim took out his weapon and fired several shots.

Mason died in the doorway of the store before police could arrive.

The shooting happened a little more than a month after Kim's wife, Seul Lim, was involved in a shoot-out with a robber at the store. Lim was shot in the arm during that incident and police arrested the suspect.

During sentencing, Pierce County Superior Court Judge John Hickman said he knows Kim was angry over what happened to his wife, but thought deadly force was not warranted, KOMO News reports.

"The use of deadly force, when your own safety is not threatened, does not justify shooting someone in the back," Hickman said.